Vermont National Guard ... Family Readinees MFCN


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Home About Us Mission Family Assistance Centers/FAC VT Air Guard-Family Readiness Youth Program Q & A/FAQ Contact Us What is a FRG? Downloads Links Military, Family & Community Network (MFCN) Resources for Veterans	Military, Family and Community Network Check out our new website http://www.vtmfcn.org What is the Military, Family & Community Network? Our Mission: Our mission is to develop and maintain a multi group community network between the community, federal and state government and private sectors that creates awareness programs and provides services to all returning service members and their families. Background: National Guard and Reserve members of the armed forces make up approximately 50% of the service members deployed. At the same time, these members and their families do not have the sustained support systems that active duty full time military members and their families have. Last year, chaplains, family program members, Vermont Agency of Human Services and the command of the Vermont National Guard approached the National Center for PTSD and the VA about helping them overcome this lack of support. In response to this request, we have held several outreach-training events as a group (VT National Guard, VA, National Center for PTSD, Vet Center, chaplains, Family Readiness Group personnel, ESGR, state agencies, clinical groups and other local area providers). These events provided an avenue to increase the networking between currently existing services, communicate common needs and barriers, and have paved the way to further collaboration. Over time, it has become apparent that many services and resources exist, however many do not know about what else is out there. Our small starter network is now trying to grow to meet this need and has taken the name: Military, Family Community Network. States across the country have started similar efforts, providing information to guide the collaboration. The Next Steps: Today the network serves ALL military families. The Network consists of a statewide steering committee and 6 local taskforces. We are in the need of volunteers like you! This network will become a long lasting community effort to understand, prevent, and deal with the lingering after effects of war on communities. We welcome to the network a variety of community members with the common goal of assisting veterans and their families in making healthy adjustments from the war-zone to the home front. Veterans and Family Members in Need In VT, dial 2-1-1 and ask for information about services for veterans and families Or call the Veteran and Family Outreach Program to talk to a veteran Call your local VA or National Guard Family Program (www.guardfamily.org) See our Calendar of Events for a variety of events relevant to helping veterans and their families Community Members Who Want to Help Sign up for our Listserv* to receive emails about community events and more (Send an email to: all-subscribe@vtmfcn.org) See our Calendar of Eventsfor events relevant to helping veterans and their families, OR POST your own info! To volunteer to help in various ways, please sign up by completing our Registration Form (Word) or Registration Form (PDF) Local Taskforces Swanton/St. Albans/Morrisville (Grand Isle, Franklin, Lamoille) Camp Johnson/Burlington/Middlebury (Chittenden, Addison) Berlin/Barre/Hartford (Washington, Orange) Rutland/Bennington (Rutland, Bennington) Springfield/Brattleboro (Windsor, Windham) Lyndonville/Newport/St. Johnsbury (Orleans, Essex, Calendonia) Ten Ways that Community Members can help returning service members/families* 1. Understand that everyone is affected when troops are deployed, some more than others. Recognize that it is best for everyone, troops and family members alike, if they do not have to go through it alone. This includes: -Service members -Spouses/partners -Parents of service members -Siblings and extended family -Kids -Friends -Employers/coworkers 2. Try to understand the experiences of war and readjustment to home life During Deployment: -War zone experiences, convoys, culture -Home experiences, loneliness, increased resp, kids and sep anxiety -Communication issues: between family members, media, status/times uncertainty Following deployment: -Homecoming: difficult adjustment, expectations vary -Takes ~1 year -Common combat stress reactions -Roles, financial issues, employment, responsibility shift 3. Learn more: -Books: ex) While They’re at War, Down Range to Iraq and Back -Movies: ex) After the Fog, The War Tapes -Get to know a service member -Learn how military mindset creates issues readjusting: www.battlemind.org 4. Doctors, clinicians, social workers: become educated about identification and treatments -Iraq War Clinicians Guide (www.ncptsd.va.gov) -PTSD screening and referral 5. Ask. Offer to listen about their deployment, but do not push if someone is not ready to discuss things. Also be sure to be an interested audience. 6. Realize the stigma that accompanies mental health issues and that getting people to talk or seek help is not always easy. Remind others that problems readjusting occur for even the strongest people and that seeking help is not a sign of weakness. Seeking help early is important to preventing chronic or more severe problems. 7. Remember kids -Isolated children with deployed parents. -Siblings as well as service members children are affected -Kids don’t necessarily ‘get’ the separation of politics and soldier support. 8. Be aware of resources and services -Family Readiness Groups and Family Assistance Centers -VA (Veterans Affairs MC) with Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) VA in WRJ had primary care walk in clinic: MH services that day -Vet Centers, VSOs -www.ncptsd.va.gov -VT 211 - Vermont 211 is an information and referral service that is also connecting veterans and their families with the services they need in VT. Just dial 2-1-1. ….MUCH MORE 9. Know some facts: -90% of injured service members survive. -IEDs (improvised explosive devices) and Traumatic Brain injury (TBI) -80% is mild but can have lasting impact -Can manifest as personality changes as well as cognitive deficits etc. -Temperatures of 130 degrees in Iraq 10. Spread the word. Join the VT Military, Family and Community Network -Attend educational sessions -Volunteer to help, even in small ways -Tell others
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